MLB Player News

Stroman (shoulder) played catch Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Stroman hasn't pitched in nearly two weeks while battling shoulder inflammation. The fact he's now able to throw again is certainly a good sign, but he still has several steps to go before being activated off the injured list.

Strider (3-2) gave up two earned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out a career-high 11 batters Wednesday against the Nationals. He picked up the win.

This was Strider's best start of his career, as he tied his career high with 5.2 innings and blew past his previous career high of eight strikeouts. He topped out at 100.9 mph and average 98.8 mph with his fastball, which had a 33 percent whiff rate in this outing. His slider registered a 48 percent whiff rate, and he threw his changeup just four times out of 106 total pitches. Strider has a 1.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 15.1 innings over his last three starts. He may get a pair of starts next week against the Giants and Dodgers, both of which would come at home.

Cortes (6-2) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 5.1 innings against the Rays. He struck out four.

Cortes allowed a baserunner in each of the first three innings but eventually settled down and retired eight straight Rays before giving up a leadoff double to Yandy Diaz in the top of the sixth. After getting the ensuing batter -- Harold Ramirez -- to pop out in foul territory, Cortes allowed his first run of the game on an RBI double to Manuel Margot. The left-hander appeared flustered as he proceeded to walk Randy Arozarena on four pitches before being replaced by Wandy Peralta, who retired back-to-back hitters to escape the inning. Across 12 starts and 69.2 innings, Cortes sports a 1.94 ERA with a 75:17 K:BB and has five victories in his last six trips to the mound. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Monday's rematch in Tampa Bay.

Velasquez didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 13-0 romp over the Tigers, giving up only one hit over 2.2 scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The right-hander was dominant the first time through the Detroit order, but that was about as far as Velasquez was allowed to go in his return from a groin injury that had sidelined him since May 24. Including the game against Boston in which he got hurt, he's tossed 5.2 scoreless, one-hit frames with an 8:1 K:BB over his last two appearances. However, Velasquez's 4.93 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB through 38.1 innings on the season are a better reflection of his reliability.

McClanahan (7-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Yankees. He struck out seven.

McClanahan allowed only three hits, but two of those were homers -- a solo blast to Aaron Judge in the bottom of the first and a three-run shot to Kyle Higashioka in the fifth. However, the left-hander was still able to get through six-plus innings while striking out at least seven for a seventh consecutive start. During that stretch, McClanahan sports a 0.98 ERA with a 58:6 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for a rematch with the Yankees on Monday.

Gibson didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Marlins, allowing one run on seven hits over eight innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The veteran right-hander put together one of his most impressive performances of the year, tossing an efficient 89 pitches (63 strikes), but Gibson left the mound on the hook for his third loss until Garrett Stubbs launched a walkoff homer in the ninth inning. Gibson had to settle for his second straight quality start and sixth of the season in 13 outings, leaving him with a 4.04 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 62:20 K:BB through 71 innings.

Gonzales (3-7) took the loss Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6.2 innings against Minnesota. He struck out two.

Gonzales was sharp from the start and got through six innings unscathed, facing just two more batters than the minimum. However, the left-hander got in trouble in the seventh after allowing back-to-back hitters to reach with one out. Gonzalez got the next batter -- Jose Miranda -- to ground into a forceout before being replaced by Paul Sewald, who gave up an RBI single to Ryan Jeffers before getting Max Kepler to end the inning on a groundout. Across 13 starts and 68.2 innings, Gonzales sports a 3.41 ERA with a 40:26 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday's matchup in Oakland, when he'll look for his first win since May 23.

Gray did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing zero runs on three hits and zero walks over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out three.

Gray was reinstated from the 15-day injured list due to a pectoral injury ahead of Wednesday's contest and tossed five scoreless innings in his first start since May 29. The right-hander never allowed more than one baserunner in an inning and was able to work around a Taylor Trammell leadoff double in the third. After throwing 65 pitches to get through five inning, Gray was replaced by Griffin Jax in the top of the sixth with the game still scoreless. Across eight starts and 38.2 innings, Gray sports a 2.09 ERA with a 42:10 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday's matchup with Cleveland.

Paxton (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session at Fenway Park on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Paxton is ramping up his activity, graduating from long toss to bullpen sessions over the last week. The left-hander is still multiple weeks away from rejoining the team.

May (elbow) is doing well in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but he remains without a return timeline, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

May is just 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, so he's not particularly close to a return. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that the plan remains for the right-hander to build up as a starter but acknowledged that he's still "a ways from that point." A mid-August return appears to be a best-case scenario for May.